Buyer & Seller Must Know
Different types of Public Housing in Singapore
HDB Properties
HDB flats are public residential development by the Singapore Housing Development Board (HDB). New HDB flats are sold at a subsidised price and this is only exclusively meant for Singapore Citizens. They are open for application either during Build-To-Order (BTO) sales launches or Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) sales launches. Both Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents that meet HDB eligibility conditions can also purchase HDB flats in the resale market.
HDB Decoupling
Gone are the days when a Singaporean couple could just do a decoupling on their existing HDB flat to avoid the Additional Buyer Stamp Duty (ABSD). If you have vaguely heard about HDB Decoupling, are interested to find out more or have the intention of doing it so that you pay lesser stamp duty in your next property purchase, unfortunately you are way too late.
Common considerations when buying a Private Property
When comes to setting the criteria and requirements for a dream house, the list of considerations can definitely go on and on, from location to its’ proximity to the nearby MRT stations and amenities, to whether it is a freehold or leasehold property. However before getting to all these, do ensure that you are financially ready first.
New or Resale Homes (Private)
New Launch or Resale Condo
To many of us, getting a new home is never an easy task and requires lots of planning and serious consideration. Other than the common questions such as getting a Leasehold or Freehold condo, another concern will be whether to get a brand New Condo or Resale Private Home. The table below is a brief summary on the pros and cons of getting a new or resale home.
Cooling Measures
5-Room HDB at Bukit Panjang sold above $600k
A resale HDB unit at Bukit Panjang was recently transacted at a record of $634,000. The 13 year-old unit is a 5-room premium HDB flat situated at 185 Jelabu Road, it has an area of 119 sqm and is on the 19th floor. This 5-room unit had attracted 20 interested homebuyers and the highest and second highest offer were just at a difference of $4000.
New Condo launches in 2015
Stablising Resale Property Price?
Punggol HDB sold above $700k
Thomson – A Popular Residential Enclave
Exclusivity at Thomson
Two words can sum up Thomson, located smack in the center of the island – parks and eateries. Thomson is absolutely brimming with both, which is what makes it such an attractive place to both live in and to invest in property. It has fast become one of the most up and coming neighborhoods on the whole island, and it’s not hard to see why.
Parklife
Thomson almost has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to greenery, parks and nature reserves. Ranging from wild areas of untamed forests teeming with monkeys, to relaxing burbling streams meandering through meadows, it has it all.
Central Catchment Nature Reserve
By far the largest nature reserve in Singapore, and incorporating some of the islands most loved attractions, as well as the richest forests in terms of biodiversity this giant green lung offers a wide range of habitats and activities. Covering an area of nearly 3000 hectares this protected area features many carefully planned nature walks and trials; 4 reservoirs including the ever popular MacRitchie with its treetop walk, a 250 meter suspension bridge giving a birds – or monkeys – eye view of the forest; the Night Safari, Zoo and River Safari.
The area has literally miles and miles of trails, many incorporating boardwalks giving the unique opportunity to see the last remaining pockets of original forest on the island, and a wide range of animals, birds and insects.
Windsor Nature Park
This 75-hectare area located just off Venus Drive in the Upper Thomson area is one of four buffer parks surrounding the central catchment area. Predominantly forested, this richly biodiverse park is in the midst of sensitive development, that is due to be completed by the end of 2016. This will restore its original paths, as well as the building of several boardwalks resulting in 3 miles of fully integrated trails giving the perfect opportunity to spot the multitude of wildlife that calls the park home.
Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park
One of the largest urban parks in Singapore, and featuring a stunning 2 mile converted canal that meanders between lush flower-strewn banks, the Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park is equally popular with exercise and nature enthusiasts alike. Its open lawns and gently sloping grassy banks make it the perfect spot for a picnic, or just a relaxing pre or post walk stroll. For the more athletic, the newly renovated tracks are idea for jogging and cycling.
Foodies Paradise
It’s not all about wildlife and greenery though, unless you include those that you can eat. The other thing this area is famous for – particularly the Upper Thomson Road area – is its eateries. Once just famous for the Roti Prata House, and the handmade dim sum at Hwa Nam Restaurant, over recent years tens of small cafes, bakeries and restaurants have sprung up, making it one of the best places in Singapore to give your taste buds a treat. The list of top places is an ever changing one, and half the fun is to just dive in and discover your own favorites.
Looking for New Launch Condo @ Thomson? You might want to find more about these 3 Singapore Condos below
- Leasehold Condo
- Thomson Impressions
- Thomson Three (TOP in 2016)
Recent Launches
Coming Soon
Singapore Institute of Technology
What Happens at the End of a 99 Year HDB Lease
Are Singapore residents sitting on the biggest housing time bomb in the island’s history?
Perhaps the scariest thing in this age of information and knowledge at your fingertips is that nobody knows. You can speak to 5 different people and get 5 different answers. There seems to be a mix between people on the one hand drifting along, certain that everything will all be ok, and that the government won’t turf them out on the street, while on the other hand, we are heading for social disaster.
En Bloc / Collective Sales
En bloc seems to be the buzz word regarding the property market in Singapore at the moment. So what exactly is en bloc, what’s the process, and is it something that you should be worried or excited about?
What is En Bloc Sale?
An en bloc sale is simply the sale of an entire private strata development when there is a majority consent among the owners to sell. If there is a unanimous consent among the owners to sell, then en bloc laws do not apply. It was initially brought in as a process to redevelop old property and bring it up to the standards demanded by modern home owners and investors. Read more
History of Public Housing in Singapore
Since 1920s..
Public housing in Singapore has been at the front of government policy for a century, and looks set to be for the foreseeable future. It has come a long way from a very low base, and it hasn’t been a smooth ride, but it is hard to knock what has been achieved in a relatively small timescale.
Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT)
The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) Logo
Housing in Singapore was blighted in the early 20th century by overcrowding, poor hygienic and living conditions. People were crowded into shophouses, slums and squatter settlements, forcing the British colonial government to try and put some island wide initiative in place. The result was the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) which was proposed in 1920, with the bill finally being approved seven years later. Read more